Welcome to Hooked on Canada holidays and our wonderful fly drive hiking holiday in Canada. This Particular hiking vacation will take your through the wonderful and contrasting landscapes of Ontario and Quebec – it truly is a walking holiday dream full of experiences . The first Europeans to visit Ontario arrived by boat. French explorers Etienne Brulé and Samuel de Champlain followed the St. Lawrence River into Lake Ontario in 1610 and 1615, respectively. Henry Hudson sailed into Ontario from the north and claimed the Hudson Bay area for Britain in 1611. Both the French and the British were keenly interested in Ontario’s commercial possibilities particularly the fur trade. Both built fortifications to protect their interests. The first settlers set up their base in the south, where the climate and land supported farming and the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence offered a natural transportation route.
Even people who live in Ontario can have trouble appreciating the sheer size of this province. Ontario is Canada's second largest province, covering more than one million square kilometres (415,000 square miles) - an area larger than France and Spain combined. More than 12 million people live in Ontario. If you look at a map of Ontario you will notice that the province is bounded by Quebec on the east, Manitoba on the west, Hudson Bay and James Bay on the north, and the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes on the south.
French  Québec,  the eastern province of Canada, with a total area of 594,860 square miles (1,540,680 square kilometres) is the largest Canadian province in size and is second only to Ontario in population. Its capital, Quebec city, is the oldest city of Canada; and its metropolis, Montreal, is the second largest city in Canada. It is bounded on the north by Hudson Strait and Ungava Bay, on the east by Labrador, on the southeast by the Gulf of St. Lawrence and New Brunswick, on the south by the United States (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York), and on the west by Ontario and by Hudson Bay

Available 1st June to 30th September
19 days / 18 nights
Fly-Drive-Hike - level 2 - 3
The Great lakes to Gaspésie’s Appalachian mountains
View map of the tour

.Tour Highlights
- Visits of the towns of Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec
- Discovery of eastern Canada’s most exciting parks
- Niagara falls and Niagara on the Lake
- Whale watching by zodiac in Tadoussac
- Observation of black bears, moose, deers, caribous, beavers, fox, marine birds
- Discovery of the saguenay fjord.

Day 1: Toronto.
Arrive Toronto international airport. Pick-up of rental car and transfer to your downtown hotel. Pick up your welcome kit and start discovering Toronto on foot.
Distance by car : 12 miles 20 km, 30 minutes.

Day 2: Toronto / Niagara / Toronto 
Your morning transfer to Niagara falls. After arriving at the falls walk around the village and check out the different scenes and take many pictures of the falls. Then get into the action by boarding the  maid of the mist a small boat taking you to the heart of the falls. In the afternoon transfer to Niagara on the lake. Discover this quiet village with it’s Victorian architecture and many wineries. This is the place where Ice wine is produced. Transfer back to Toronto in the evening.
Distance by car : 187 miles 300 km, 3h30 (return).
walks : 1-2hours

Day 3 : Toronto / Ottawa
A morning drive to Ottawa. On the road stop at Sandbanks provincial park, where sand dunes meet lake Ontario. Numerous bird species live here and the sheer beauty of the dunes is a great place for a picnic. Continue driving to Ottawa , Canada’s capital. Overnight in downtown hotel.
Distance by car : 250 miles 399 km, 4 hours.

Day 4: Ottawa / ville de Québec 
A morning visit of Ottawa on foot and then in the afternoon driving to Quebec city. Perched a top cap Diamant, surveying the St. Lawrence River, Québec City is one of the landmarks of North American history. Samuel de Champlain saw the potential of this natural citadel, and founded a fur-trading post here in 1608. The old quarter of Québec City was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985. This is the only fortified city in North America, and from the top of its ramparts you can admire the maze of narrow, winding streets and sloping roofs. Hotel for the night
Distance by car : 280 miles 450 km, 5hours.
Walking : 3 hours.

Day 5: Quebec city
Today you can go hiking in the Park du Bic. A morning transfer to Park du Bic. Arriving in the park a local guide joins you to identify and explain the river wildlife and its seal population. Walk through this shoreline park of panoramic river views and rocky promontories. Join a local bed and breakfast for a great meal and good nights rest.
Distance by car : 122 miles 220 km, 3h.
Walking : 3 hours.

Day 6: Park du Bic. / Gaspésie Park 
Today you continue your journey to the Gaspé peninsula into the Gaspésie provincial park. Parc national de la Gaspésie is a veritable sea of mountains located in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula. Its varied climates and unusual geomorphology attract a diversity of plant and animal species that are unique in Québec. The park has 25 peaks over 1,000 metres high. Monts Chic-Chocs are well known to outdoor enthusiasts. The panorama is simply breathtaking! Today start your exploration of the Gaspé Park by hiking across the Pic du Brûlé region and ascending Mont Ernest Ménard. This is an intermediate hike of some 9km. Night at renowned Gite du Mont Albert.

Day 7:  Hiking along the Lac aux Américains trail.
Around 10:00am you leave the hotel taking the Lac aux Américains trail in the direction of Mont Xalibu. This is an easy to intermediate hike taking about 5 hours (round-trip) with a 200 to 300 meter ascent. On the way back you may refresh with a dip in the Sainte-Anne river. Night at renowned Gite du Mont Albert.

Day 8: Ascent of Mont Albert
Make an early start today on the hike up Mont Albert. Following the Montée trail towards the summit, the route is initially enclosed in dense forest until we suddenly emerge onto a rising plateau of stunted spruce and tundra, which you cross to reach the summit. You can either retrace your steps, or take the longer downward route on the La Vallée trail with its breathtaking views. This challenging hike involves an ascent of 800 meters and takes 7 hours on La Montée trail or 10 hours if returning on the Vallée trail. Night at renowned Gite du Mont Albert.

Day 9 : Ascent of Mont Jacques Cartier
Today you drive to Percé at the Lands End as it is known. Today you climb Mont Jacques Cartier. At 1248 meters this is the highest peak in Southern Quebec. You follow a direct but rocky trail so good hiking footwear is essential. After one and a half hours you reach the summit. From there, the entire range of the McGerrigle mountains lies at our feet as you take in one of the most magnificent views on the eastern side of the continent. As on all the hikes, the surrounding country abounds with wildlife. Following your return to base after a round-trip of 5 hours and drive via Murdochville to the coast at Percé.
Accommodation by the sea with a spectacular view of the famous Percé rock formation.
Distance by car : 106 miles 170 km, 3h.

Day 10: Boat trip to Rocher Percé and Île Bonaventure.
Percé village ask any Quebecois what comes to mind when asked about the Gaspé seacoast and the reply will undoubtedly be “Le rocher Percé et l’île Bonaventure!”. Today take a boat out to Bonaventure Island past the Percé rock formation with its characteristic archway eroded by the sea. Spend much the afternoon walking around Bonaventure Island discovering the amazing numbers and varieties of sea birds nesting and living on this sanctuary. Spare time in late afternoon for those who wish to explore the village with its boutiques and local craft shops. Accommodation in Percé.

Day 11 : Forillon National Park
Drive to Forillon national park and start your nature hike at Mont Saint-Alban beaver colony. From Percé drive to Forillon national park with a busy day of wilderness adventure ahead. Parc Forillon is uniquely located where the mighty Appalachian mountain chain, originating in the southern U.S., finally gives way to the Atlantic Ocean. For thousands of years the sea and wind have formed the huge cliffs and eroded the spectacular rocky bays and promontories which marked the first North American landfall for early seafarers from France. The park is sanctuary to an amazing variety of forest and mountain animals as well as coast-dwelling gannets, auks, cormorants and ospreys. Marine mammals such as seals, porpoises and whales can usually be observed feeding close to shore. An afternoon hike will takes you to the summit of Mont Saint-Alban from which one can see as far as the province of New Brunswick and the distant Anticosti Islands. In early evening you may want to join a guide that takes you to a beaver colony where you can observe these industrious little “Canadians” at work. Bed and Breakfast for the night.
Distance by car : 40 miles 70 km, 1.5h.

Day 12 : Discover marine life, hike in the park.
This morning, you will  walk along Parc Forillon’s coastline, up to the Cap Gaspe, where the Appalachian range finish. Following the trace of the bear, you might have the chance to observe them moving through the forest. Around 5:30, you call a halt in an area where it is possible to watch seals. Back to bed and breakfast and time for a great seafood diner.

Day 13: Transfer to the North shore of the St-Lawrence / Bay Comeau ferry.
Leaving Park Forillon you follow the Gulf of St Lawrence southwards to Matane. En route you may visit Cap Chat world’s largest aeolian windmill—an experimental electricity generator. The remaining route to Matane with its bays, promontories and lighthouses presents good opportunities to photographers. We leave Matane by ferry and cross to Baie Comeau on the north shore of the St Lawrence in two and a half hours. Drive on to your Bed and breakfast in a local community on the shores of St-Lawrence River. Distance by car : 310 miles 500 km, 7.5 hours  including the ferry.

Day 14: Tadoussac
Today a boat trip and whale watching. You start the day with a visit at the interpretative center of Cap Bon Desir, where biologists will be pleased to talk to you about the St-Lawrence’s marine wildlife. Transfer to Tadoussac, located at the picturesque junction of the St Lawrence and the Saguenay river flowing from its fjord. On arrival take an excursion by foot across the village before embarking on a “zodiac” powerboat and proceed to the feeding grounds. Here you get a close-up meeting with the massive yet serene fin back whales, the smaller minkies, the playful belugas and perhaps a lone blue whale as well as porpoises and a variety of seals. Back on shore, transfer to Bed and breakfast.

Day 15: Tadoussac / Grands Jardins.
Taking the short ferry trip across the Saguenay you drive on to the Grands Jardins de Charlevoix regional park. The Charlevoix region was formed millions of years ago by meteorite collision and has a unique topography and mini eco-climate. On arrival you set out on a hike following le Mont du Lac des Cygnes trail, or in english “ Swan lake Mountain trail. This intermediate-level hike will take the rest of the day—at the end of which you will have a refreshing swim in the river or simply sit and relax by the Charlevoix Scenery. Night in local Bed and breakfast in Baie Saint Paul.
Distance by car : 95 miles 150 km – 2 hours
Walking : 12 km – 4 hours – 480 m elevation gain.

Day 16 : Baie Saint Paul, Quebec city and nightlife.
Baie Saint Paul, the long-established center for Canadian artists attracted by the extreme clarity of light and the unique mountain, valley and river panoramas found here. You visit the artist-owned studios lining the narrow main street. Transfer in Québec in the beginning afternoon, explore the city on foot, free time. For those who wish, here is an opportunity to sample Québec’s nightlife before spending the night in a downtown hotel.
Distance by car : 100 km – 1 hour

Day 17-18: Quebec - Guided tour of Montreal 
Transfer from Quebec city to Montreal. Montréal, like some precious work of art, is framed by Mont Royal and the St. Lawrence River. The Indian village of Hochelaga originally stood at the foot of the mountain baptized  "Mont Royal" by Jacques Cartier. Here, 230 m (755 ft) below the summit, Paul Chomedey, sieur de Maisonneuve, founded Ville-Marie in 1642. Three and a half centuries later, what was initially a simple missionary village has burgeoned into the world's largest inland port, the home of Canada's first banks and trading companies, the world's second-largest French-speaking city, and a metropolis of international repute. Given its prime location - only 60 km (37 mi) from the U.S. border - Montréal is an increasingly important hub of North American trade. Montréal has drawn on the combined strengths of its French and British roots to attract newcomers from around the world. This multicultural mix has fostered a fertile and vibrant cultural life. A broad range of movies, plays and shows draw large audiences, while bars, cafés and discotheques rock until the early hours of the morning. Shopping in Montréal - a fashion capital - is another pleasure not to be missed. Sightseeing around the city. Night accommodation in downtown hotel.
Distance by car : 156 miles 253 km – 2.5 hour

Day 19: Montreal / transfer to Airport. End of trip.

Accommodations:
D 1-2: Hotel Toronto
D 3: Hotel Ottawa
D 4 : Hotel Quebec city
D 5: B&B near Bic Park
D 6-7-8: Night at “gite du Mont Labert”
D 9-10: B&B in Percé
D 11-12: B&B in Forillon
D 13-14 : B&B in or close to Tadoussac.
D 15: B&B in Baie Saint Paul
D 16: Hotel Quebec city
D 17-18: Hotel Montreal

2010 Prices

How to get there
- British Airways, daily non-stop from London Heathrow
- Air Canada, twice daily non-stop from London Heathrow in the summer (May to October) and once daily in the winter
- KLM, daily non-stop from Amsterdam Schipol, with excellent connections from various UK regional airports
- Thomas Cook Airlines weekly from London Gatwick & Manchester from May to October

view our other hiking vacations in British Columbia Hiking , Quebec , Newfoundland , Rockies and Pacific Coast and Nova Scotia
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